Elevation-adjustable baseball batting-training apparatus

ABSTRACT

A baseball batting-training apparatus includes a base plate having a plurality of upright stub tubes, a telescopic stick selectively inserted into one of the upright stub tubes and adapted to hold a ball for batting, and a lock nut threaded onto the selected upright stub tube to lock the telescopic stick in position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a baseball batting-trainingapparatus for use to practice baseball batting and, more particularly,to an elevation-adjustable baseball batting-training apparatus that canbe conveniently adjusted to hold the ball in one of a series ofelevation positions to fit the batter.

[0002]FIG. 1 shows a prior art design of baseball batting-trainingapparatus. This design of baseball batting-training apparatus comprisesa base plate A, and a stick B fixedly fastened to the top sidewall ofthe base plate A. The stick B has a top end terminating in a ball cup BIadapted to hold a ball for batting. This design of baseballbatting-training apparatus is still not satisfactory in function.Because the stick B is fixedly fastened to the base plate A and theelevation of the ball cup B1 is not adjustable, the position of the ballcup B1 is not adjustable to fit different batting angles. Further,because the stick B is fixedly fastened to the base plate A, thebaseball batting-training apparatus occupies much storage space when notused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention has been accomplished to provide a baseballbatting-training apparatus, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. Itis one object of the present invention to provide a baseballbatting-training apparatus, which can be conveniently adjusted todifferent elevations and angular positions to fit different battingangles. It is another object of the present invention to provide abaseball batting-training apparatus, which is detachable. To achievethese and other objects of the present invention, the baseballbatting-training apparatus comprises a base plate, said base platecomprising a plurality of upright stub tubes, said upright stub tubeseach having an axially extended center hole and an externally threadedsplit top neck around said center hole; a telescopic stick selectivelyfastened to one of the upright stub tubes of the base plate, thetelescopic stick having a top end terminating in a ball cup adapted tohold a ball for batting; and a lock nut coupled to the telescopic stickand threaded onto the externally threaded split top neck of the selectedupright stub tube of the base plate to lock the telescopic stick.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a baseball batting-trainingapparatus according to the prior art.

[0005]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an elevation-adjustable baseballbatting-training apparatus according to the present invention.

[0006]FIG. 3 is a sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of thepresent invention showing the internal structure of the telescopicstick.

[0007]FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing an installation example ofthe present invention.

[0008]FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing an application example ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0009] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a baseball batting-training apparatusin accordance with the present invention is shown comprised of a baseplate 1, and a telescopic stick 2. The telescopic stick 2 is comprisedof a sleeve 21, and a sliding tube 22. The sliding tube 22 is axiallyslidably inserted into the sleeve 21, having one end, namely, the topend fixedly mounted with a ball cup 20 adapted to hold a ball forhitting. The base plate 1 comprises a plurality of upright stub tubes 11adapted to selectively receive the stick 2. Each upright stub tube 11has an axially extended center hole 110, an externally threaded splittop neck 12. The top neck 12 has longitudinal splits 121. The outerdiameter of the sleeve 21 fits the axially extended center hole 110 ofeach of the upright stub tubes 11. After insertion of the sleeve 21 intothe axially extended center hole 110 of one upright stub tube 11, a locknut 211 is threaded onto the top neck 12 of the upright stub tube 11 tolock the sleeve 21. When fastening tight the lock nut 211, the top neck12 of the upright stub tube 11 is radially inwardly compressed againstthe periphery of the sleeve 21, and therefore the sleeve 21 is locked.The sleeve 21 has a longitudinal row of retaining holes 215, and oneend, namely, the top end terminating in an externally threaded splitneck 212. The externally threaded split neck 212 has longitudinallyextended splits 213. The sliding tube 22 is inserted through a lock nut214 into the sleeve 21 to the desired depth, and then the lock nut 214is threaded onto the split neck 212 to lock the sliding tube 22. Whenfastening tight the lock nut 214, the externally threaded split neck 212is radially inwardly compressed against the periphery of the slidingtube 22, and therefore the sliding tube 22 is locked in the desiredposition.

[0010] Referring to FIG. 4 and FIGS. 2 and 3 again, the sliding tube 22has a spring element 222 mounted on the inside near one end, namely, thebottom end, and a retaining rod 221 extended from the spring element 222and projecting out of (a hole through) the peripheral wall. Wheninserting the sliding tube 22 into the sleeve 21, the retaining rod 221is selectively engaged into one of the retaining holes 215 of the sleeve21 to hold the sliding tube 22 in position. By means of changing theengagement between the retaining rod 221 of the sliding tube 22 and theretaining holes 215 of the sleeve 21, the elevation of the ball cup 20is relatively adjusted. According to the present preferred embodiment,the retaining rod 221 is formed integral with the spring element 222.Further, the spring element 222 can be a compression spring, springleaf, or any of a variety of rubber or metallic spring means.

[0011] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 4 again, when in use, the sleeve 21of the stick 2 is selectively fastened to one of the upright stub tube11 of the base plate 1, and then the lock nut 211 is fastened tight tolock the sleeve 21, and then the sliding tube 22 is moved in the sleeve21 to the desired elevation to force the retaining rod 221 intoengagement with one of the retaining holes 215 of the sleeve 21, andthen the lock nut 214 is fastened tight to lock the sliding tube 22.Thus, the user can than put the ball in the ball cup 20, and then whipthe bat to bat the ball.

[0012] A prototype of baseball batting-training apparatus has beenconstructed with the features of FIGS. 2˜4. The baseballbatting-training apparatus functions smoothly to provide all of thefeatures discussed earlier.

[0013] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has beendescribed in detail for purposes of illustration, various modificationsand enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited exceptas by the appended claims.

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A baseball batting-training apparatuscomprising: a base plate, said base plate comprising a plurality ofupright stub tubes, said upright stub tubes each having an axiallyextended center hole and an externally threaded split top neck aroundsaid center hole; a telescopic stick selectively fastened to one of saidupright stub tubes of said base plate, said telescopic stick having atop end terminating in a ball cup adapted to hold a ball for batting;and a lock nut coupled to said telescopic stick and threaded onto theexternally threaded split top neck of the selected upright stub tube ofsaid base plate to lock said telescopic stick.
 2. The baseballbatting-training apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said telescopicstick comprises a sleeve fitting the axially extended center hole ofsaid upright stub tubes, said sleeve having an externally threaded splitneck at one end thereof, a sliding tube inserted into said sleeve, and alock nut threaded onto the externally threaded split neck of said sleeveto lock said sliding tube in said sleeve at the desired elevation. 3.The baseball batting-training apparatus as claimed in claim 2 whereinsaid sleeve has a longitudinal row of retaining holes, and said slidingtube has a spring element mounted on the inside near a bottom endthereof, said spring element having a retaining rod extended out of saidsliding tube for engagement into one of the retaining holes of saidsleeve.
 4. The baseball batting-training apparatus as claimed in claim 3wherein said spring element is a compression spring.
 5. The baseballbatting-training apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said springelement is a plate spring.
 6. The baseball batting-training apparatus asclaimed in claim 3 wherein said spring element is made of rubber.